Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, who was one of the prominent names being considered for the post of Kerala Chief Minister, welcomed the decision of the Congress leadership to appoint VD Satheesan in his place. Speaking to reporters after Satheesan’s name was announced, Venugopal said that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had sought his opinion, adding that “as a sincere Congressman, we are all behind the party’s decision”.
Venugopal said, “The final decision has come and the Congress high command has decided that VD Satheesan will be the chief ministerial candidate for the Kerala government. I wholeheartedly welcome this decision. I congratulate VD Satheesan for this position.”
“I think the people of Kerala have given a big verdict for the UDF. VD Satheesan’s government and leadership can fulfill the aspirations and promises of the people of Kerala. Of course, we are fully behind the Kerala government,” he said.
The Congress general secretary (organization) continued that “Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi discussed the situation and the decision-making process. They called me and asked my opinion and we all discussed it.”
“I thank the MLAs, party workers, party functionaries for the support they have given me. Finally, the party has taken the decision and as a sincere Congressman, we all stand by the party’s decision,” KC Venugopal said.
How Satheesan reacted
When his name was announced as the next Chief Minister of Kerala, VD Satheesan thanked the Congress leadership and credited his supporters for the victory. He said, “I have achieved this with the support of lakhs of Congress workers and the UDF team. Congress has given me a huge responsibility, I thank the party leadership for that.”
Apart from Satheesan and Venugopal, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala was also in the running for the post of CM.
The decision comes more than 10 days after the results of the April assembly elections in Kerala were declared. The Congress-led UDF secured more than two-thirds majority in the Kerala assembly elections, but the party was unable to decide on its chief ministerial face due to lobbying by various camps and protests by workers at the ground level.
what next
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph said AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik along with state party official Deepa Dasmunsi will reach Thiruvananthapuram by 4 pm.
After that, a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting of party MLAs will be held in the Assembly in the evening, Joseph said.
